Public service workers ask to work from home, as fuel prices rise

As many people have noticed, fuel has not been cheap and in some cases has risen past $3 per litre. 

The conflict in the Middle East has created a scarcity of oil, which has created these conditions. 

Oil tankers have been backed up, unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, because Iran has threatened to attack. 

Online monitoring site Gaspy showed 91 had crept up more than 20 cents per litre on average over 28 days. 

The Public Service Association believed this was worsening the cost-of-living crisis for members, and National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons wanted it addressed. 

“These fuel prices are hitting working people hard. We want the government to look at every measure to relieve the burden on workers.”

The union believed one way to solve it would be working from home and reducing commuting. 

However, that comes after a government push to get public servants back into offices.

In late 2024 the government updated its guidance around working from home, and said that flexible arrangements are not an entitlement and must be by agreement, and should not harm performance. 

Ms Fitzsimons believed that should be revisited, given the situation. 

“The government needs to take all its previous positions off the table and look at how they can urgently address the cost-of-living crisis facing working people.”

However, she did highlight home support workers as a particularly urgent case. 

“(They) are now forced into terrible situations where they're deciding whether they can put food on the table or get to work.”

They use their own vehicles as transport to and from clients, which added extra strain. 

There is a fuel subsidy allowance they receive, but there were calls for that to be increased until prices drop again. 

“We must see an increase in the petrol subsidy for these essential workers.”

For now, the government has created a ‘Ministerial Economic Security and Supply Chains Group’ to oversee the situation. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said their role was to ‘provide strategic direction’ and to ‘protect essential services, support industry, and maintain public confidence’.